The valley is (going to be) alive with the sound of fireworks and fun next week. Here is a roundup of happenings.

• The 28th Annual Rancho Cordova Fourth of July event kicks off July 3 with carnival rides, live music, a kid’s zone, beer garden and more. Festivities go from 4–11 p.m. Tuesday night, but the fun resumes at 10 a.m. on the fourth with a parade. July 4 activities go from noon to 11 p.m., and, yes, there will be fireworks—both nights. Admission is $2, free for children 5 and younger and 10 bucks for parking. For more info, click here.

• 54th Annual Fourth of July Parade: Honoring the American Spirit starts at 10:30 a.m. at Fair Oaks Boulevard and Marconi Avenue, ending at the Elks Lodge at 5631 Cypress Ave. in Carmichael. Enjoy a pancake breakfast prior to the parade from 7 a.m.–11 a.m. at the Carmichael Park Clubhouse at 5750 Grant Ave. in Carmichael. Enjoy post-parade music, dancing and swimming at the lodge. Reconvene in the evening at La Sierra Community Center, 5325 Engle Road, for the annual fireworks show. Show up starting at 7 p.m. for food, music and fun activities; the fireworks start around 9:30 p.m. Click here for more info.

• Gates open at 7 a.m. for the 16th Annual Salute to the Red, White and Blue in Elk Grove Regional Park at 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road, but the fun gets started later that evening—at 6 p.m.—with live music, food vendors and then fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free, but it will cost $10 to park. Better choice: Take e-tran for free. Click here for more info.

• Roseville’s Fourth of July celebration starts off with a parade at 10 a.m. (at the Vernon/Douglas/Riverside intersection), then food and games at Royer Park, 190 Park Drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including music by the Capitol Pops Concert Band starting at noon. Later that evening, head over to the Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All American City Blvd., for fireworks. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks start at approximately 9:30 p.m. Admission is free; parking is $5. For more info, click here.

• The Grass Valley and Nevada City Chambers of Commerce team up to host the area’s Fourth of July celebration. The fun starts with a parade at 2 p.m. on the streets of downtown Nevada City, followed by live entertainment, food and fun at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road in Grass Valley at 3 p.m. and ending with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Admission to the fairgrounds is $8 for adults, with children 12 and younger free. For more information, click here.

• The July 4 Pyrospectacular at Cal Expo will feature live music starting at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. General admission to the Miller Lite Grandstand at 1600 Exposition Way is free, with a limited number of reserved seats available for 10 bucks. For more info, click here. But with all due respect to the fine folks at Cal Expo, if all you’re looking for is the fireworks, park it somewhere along the levee or, heck, along Howe Avenue and nearby streets. It truly is the block party to end all block parties.

• Make room for all of the festive food and drink by starting the day off with some exercise. The 36th Annual Fourth of July 5-Miler kicks off at 8 a.m. at Glenn Hall Park in River Park (corner of Sandburg and Carlson drives) and winds through the River Park neighborhood. The run is free, but show up between 7:15 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. to sign a waiver. For more information, click here. The 4th Annual Folsom Firecracker 5K/10K ignites at 8 a.m. at 145 Parkshore Drive in Folsom and takes you along the gorgeous trails of Lake Natoma for a portion of the walk/run. Proceeds go to one of six charities of your choice from a list provided. Registration is $25. Click here for more information. If you’re in Grass Valley, start your day off with the Freedom Run 5K at 8 a.m., which is held on the grounds of the Nevada Union High School at 11761 Ridge Road in Grass Valley using the school’s cross-country course. Registration is $20 for walkers, $25 for runners and the event benefits Nevada Union High School track and cross-country teams. For more information, click here. In Woodland, you can kick off Independence Day with your choice of a 5-mile run, a 5K run/walk or a 1 mile run/walk. The 5-3-1 Run! starts at the Pioneer High School track at 1400 Pioneer Ave. Registration is $25 to $35 depending on the event you do and proceeds benefit the students of the Woodland Joint Unified School District. For more information, click here. You can “Help Run Crime Out of Roseville” (and try to outrun Roseville police chief Daniel Hahn in the process) at a 5K run starting at 7:45 a.m. at Royer Park, 190 Park Drive in Roseville. Registration is $30 for adults. For more info, click here. The Run 4 Independence takes place on Saturday, June 30 at Elk Grove Regional Park, 9950 Elk Grove-Florin Road. Proceeds from 5K/10K run/walk—which start at 8:30 a.m.—benefit Elk Grove Food Bank Services. Registration is $35. For more information, click here.